An impressive conference took place in Berlin and Cologne April 13-14 focussing on the untapped business opportunities in Zambia. The active and renown German-African Business Association (Afrika Verein) partnered with the Zambian Embassy in Berlin to mount this gathering of high-ranking private and public sector representatives.

Enlarge image Zambia's Mosi-O-Tunya National Park is a gateway to the tourism mecca Victoria Falls. (© picture-alliance/dpa) For two days, prominent members of the German and Zambian private and public sectors gathered for a very special conference split between Cologne and Berlin. It was a unique opportunity to raise awareness in Germany and with German companies regarding the great potential for profitable investment in Zambia and attractive trading opportunities with Zambian companies.

Cabinet ministers and a deputy minister of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, as well as the Governor of the Bank of Zambia addressed the audiences and provided first-hand information on widely untapped economic opportunities for German business in their country. The high-ranking delegation  bears witness to the interest of Zambia in strengthening its economic ties with Germany. Hans-Joachim Otto, Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Economics and Technology Ministry represented the German Government in welcoming participants in Berlin.

In his keynote address, the German Ambassador to Zambia Frank Meyke highlighted the tremendous potential for German-Zambian economic ties, emphasizing the opportunities Zambia's numerous assets holds. From rich mineral and water resources and natural beauty, to its proximity to the markets of its eight neighbouring nations, “the potential and opportunities for German business in Zambia are considerable indeed,” he remarked.

He noted that Zambia has a business environment that is “amongst the best in sub-Saharan Africa.” With simplifications and improvements to the regulatory processes in the country, the ease of doing business there has improved greatly. Its improved ranking in this area Ambassador Meyke believes, leads one to assume “that Zambia is not located in sub-Saharan Africa with an average rank of 138, but rather close to Eastern Europe and Central Asia with an average rank of 72.”

Enlarge image Finished product from a cobalt mine in Zambia (© picture-alliance/dpa) The governments of Germany and Zambia are supporting each other now more than ever in all efforts strengthening initiatives of private business and industry in bilateral relations. In December 2010, Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati, and German Development Minister Dirk Niebel jointly launched the German-Zambian Business Information Linkage Desk in Lusaka. They did so because both governments agree that the time has come for private industry to play a more prominent role in bilateral relations.

Another initiative which will be helpful strengthening German-Zambian economic links is the envisaged partnership of the Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) with a German chamber. Two German chambers, Handwerkskammer Karlsruhe and Handwerkskammer Rhein/Main in Frankfurt, have expressed interest in such a partnership.

A successful joint private-public sector engagement in Zambia was presented during the Berlin program. A session was devoted to German business experiences in Agriculture, specifically to the concept of competitive and sustainable African cotton. Zambian farmers have been part of the Cotton Made In Africa public-private initiative for sustainable cotton since 2007 (see article on right). This successful program is just a fraction of what is possible in many sectors in Zambia under these partnerships.